It’s crucial to understand how to properly care for your dentures to ensure your health. Here’s a list of the most important steps to take care of your dentures.
Steps to Take Care of Your Dentures
Here are the basic steps to ensure excellent oral and denture care.
- Rinse your dentures after eating throughout the day. Using a simple rinse with water is sufficient, and you can also use a saltwater rinse to really get at the bacteria that hides between teeth.
- When removing your dentures from your mouth, stand over or near a sink. Dropping your dentures on the floor is unsanitary, and it could also damage the appliance itself. Also, be careful not to drop it in the sink itself, which could cause breakage as well. Using a towel is helpful.
- Make sure to gently brush your dentures every day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. There are brushes made specifically for denture brushing. Using the wrong kind of toothbrush, or a toothbrush that’s too stiff can result in damage to attachments or to the plastic. If the plastic becomes damaged, it will begin to harbor harmful bacteria, causing an unpleasant odor.
- If you have an ultrasonic cleaner for your dentures, that’s great. This is a cleaning device that uses soundwaves to get rid of food particles and other debris while the dentures sit in a special solution. However, make sure to use it along with daily brushing. Using the ultrasonic device doesn’t mean you can skip this step.
- You can also soak your dentures in specialized denture cleaning solutions, but this is also not a substitute for brushing, either. It’s essential that you use a brush to clean the dentures to remove plaque, even if you soak them and use an ultrasonic device.
- Don’t use toothpaste or other household cleaners to wash your dentures. These are too rough and can cause damage. Instead, simply use mild hand soap or dish soap to gently clean them.
- Avoid using bleach to clean any part of your dentures, as this is very dangerous and will cause harm. It will also whiten the pink portion of your denture device. Additionally, using other household cleaners could tarnish the metal attachments on your dentures.
- Remove your dentures every night before bed, allowing your gum tissue to rest overnight. Whenever you aren’t wearing your dentures, make sure you keep them in water. Keeping them wet will prevent them from losing their shape. However, make sure you never submerge your dentures in hot water because it can cause your dentures to warp, and they’ll no longer fit properly.
Caring for Your Oral Health with Dentures
Here are a few more tips to ensure a healthy mouth when wearing dentures.
- Make sure to brush your natural teeth, tongue, and gums before bed to maintain good oral hygiene. You should use a toothbrush to reach and massage your gums, and even your palate. By brushing so thoroughly, you not only remove plaque, but you also encourage circulation in the mouth.
- Ensure that you’re comprehensively cleaning the teeth that fit under your denture’s metal parts. These are parts of your mouth that are prone to additional plaque, which leads to tooth decay when not removed.
- Eat a balanced diet with proper nutrition, which encourages good oral health.
Full dentures should last between five and seven years before a replacement is necessary.
If you do happen to notice any tarnishing, cracks in the plastic, odor, or sore gums, please call Danville Family Dentistry today at 317-745-4400, so that we can make sure your mouth and dentures are healthy and safe.
Disclaimer: The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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